A Texas man who was pulled over in Palo Alto for riding without a helmet was arrested after a brief foot chase late Sunday night after officers learned that he is a wanted felon in his home state.

Aaron Keith Stanley, 27, was arrested at about 9:45 p.m. March 30 shortly after officers pulled him over on Churchill Avenue, near Alma Street, for riding a motorcycle without a helmet. While one of the officers was in the patrol car writing a citation, Stanley allegedly started the motorcycle in an effort to ride away. The second officer, who stood near Stanley, grabbed him as he revved up the motorcycle engine. The officer pulled Stanley off the motorcycle, but Stanley was able to break free and run west on Churchill.

After a short foot chase, one of the officers tackled Stanley to the ground near El Camino Real. Police said there was a brief struggle before the two officers took Stanley into custody. During the scuffle, Stanley suffered minor facial injuries, which were treated at the scene by the Fire Department. One of the officers had minor injuries to his wrist and forearm but did not require treatment, police said.

Police then learned that Stanley had a felony larceny warrant out of Clay County, Texas, where he is on parole for residential burglary. Palo Alto officers also learned that Stanley had allegedly stolen the motorcycle he was riding, a 2003 Yamaha R6, three hours earlier in San Francisco, and was riding it without a license. Officers also found a hypodermic needle inside Stanley's backpack.

Police booked Stanley into the Santa Clara County Main Jail because of the Texas warrant as well as on additional charges of vehicle theft (a felony) and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, possession of a hypodermic needle and driving without a license. Officers have no information at this time that suggests he is connected with any of the recent residential burglaries in Palo Alto.

Anyone with information about this incident or this suspect is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.